This Sunday we experienced a pulpit swap. Ben Webb from St Paul's Stafford shared with you at Emmanuel, whilst I led worship at Wilston Uniting Church.
What happened at Emmanuel? As you listened to Ben, open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, how were you challenged, inspired, confronted, led to a deeper understanding? Please post a comment and share with others.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
When temptation looks appealing
Matthew 4:1 - 11
Taken from the point of view of the devil, the temptations that Jesus faced all seemed reasonable, indeed could even be God honouring. The temptation to feed himself, to test God before he went into battle, to get power and glory without pain and suffering, can all be spun as a way of achieving God's purposes. Indeed, therein is the greatest deception of the devil. It's found in those temptations that are so obviously wrong, although still appealing. But more so in those things that it takes alot of pray, discernment and waiting on God, to identify the evil temptation.
For example, God wants his church to grow and prevail, isn't it right then, that I should do everything in my power to make the church grow? Wrong. That's the temptation of the devil. My part in God's church is to surrender to his will, to serve where I am called, to use his gifts in ways that honour him.
Abiding in scripture like Jesus did helps us identify what is of God, and what is of the devil, because temptation can all too often seem very appealing.
Taken from the point of view of the devil, the temptations that Jesus faced all seemed reasonable, indeed could even be God honouring. The temptation to feed himself, to test God before he went into battle, to get power and glory without pain and suffering, can all be spun as a way of achieving God's purposes. Indeed, therein is the greatest deception of the devil. It's found in those temptations that are so obviously wrong, although still appealing. But more so in those things that it takes alot of pray, discernment and waiting on God, to identify the evil temptation.
For example, God wants his church to grow and prevail, isn't it right then, that I should do everything in my power to make the church grow? Wrong. That's the temptation of the devil. My part in God's church is to surrender to his will, to serve where I am called, to use his gifts in ways that honour him.
Abiding in scripture like Jesus did helps us identify what is of God, and what is of the devil, because temptation can all too often seem very appealing.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Evidence
Matthew 3:1 - 12
In response to the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to see what he's doing in the wilderness, John the Baptist gives them an earful and a challenge to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance." I am fascintated by this phrase.
It would be very easy for us today to produce fruit. How much of what we do in church and life is just "stuff". Activity for the sake of activity? Our protestant work ethic, our action orientated society, our results based culture gives us a natural bias toward doing something and showing some sort of results. But that's not what John challenges us to do. He challenges us to show an outward response to our inner relationship to God. Jesus teaching in John 15:1 - 8 where he says "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" is a natural extension of John's command.
As disciples who follow Jesus, we are challenged to do no more, and no less, than that which he calls us to do. Our fruit, the service we give and our sharing of faith needs to be an authentic response to his grace in our lives and our growing relationship with him.
The challenge for us is to be willing to serve just where he wants. To lay down our egos, and desire for power and control and stop doing more than he would have us do. To also be willing to lay down our pursuit of the easy life, and fear of being "trapped by the church" and serve more than we are now. What do you need to do?
The challenge also comes through our sharing of faith. Where our faith is genuine and deeply held by us, the passion for Christ will result in authentic sharing of that faith with our friends and families. How are you leading those around you, who do not yet know Jesus Christ, closer to his saving presence?
In response to the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to see what he's doing in the wilderness, John the Baptist gives them an earful and a challenge to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance." I am fascintated by this phrase.
It would be very easy for us today to produce fruit. How much of what we do in church and life is just "stuff". Activity for the sake of activity? Our protestant work ethic, our action orientated society, our results based culture gives us a natural bias toward doing something and showing some sort of results. But that's not what John challenges us to do. He challenges us to show an outward response to our inner relationship to God. Jesus teaching in John 15:1 - 8 where he says "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" is a natural extension of John's command.
As disciples who follow Jesus, we are challenged to do no more, and no less, than that which he calls us to do. Our fruit, the service we give and our sharing of faith needs to be an authentic response to his grace in our lives and our growing relationship with him.
The challenge for us is to be willing to serve just where he wants. To lay down our egos, and desire for power and control and stop doing more than he would have us do. To also be willing to lay down our pursuit of the easy life, and fear of being "trapped by the church" and serve more than we are now. What do you need to do?
The challenge also comes through our sharing of faith. Where our faith is genuine and deeply held by us, the passion for Christ will result in authentic sharing of that faith with our friends and families. How are you leading those around you, who do not yet know Jesus Christ, closer to his saving presence?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Turning around
"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt 3:2).
Repentance may not be the most welcome word to hear. It has connotations of fundamentalist preachers, bringing a message of despair and foreboding, a bit like John the Baptist. It is a word that Christ-followers need to hear and act upon. We all fall short of the glory of God, we sin, in our thoughts, words and actions, and need to turn again to the life that Christ has for us.
As we continue to explore our Strategic Map, we recognise that two parts of the pathway are about our inner journey toward being more like Christ. The first is to grow in our Christ like character, and to humbly learn to submit to the transformative work of the Spirit in us. Our pathway into the future will challenge us to reflect deeper, and more intentionally on our ongoing alignment with Christ's life in us. The map gives us guidance on how we are going to do this.
Our work of transformation is also about learning new and better skills for conducting our ministry. Proverbs 1:5 tells us that the wise will listen and add to their learning. Our journey into the future entails better equipping us for the work of serving that we're called to do.
Take some time, pray, reflect, journal, talk to a trusted friend, in what areas do you need to grow spiritually to more authentically reflect the life of Christ? Also, what are the skills that you need to learn or improve to continue to faithfully serve as God has called and equippped you?
Repentance may not be the most welcome word to hear. It has connotations of fundamentalist preachers, bringing a message of despair and foreboding, a bit like John the Baptist. It is a word that Christ-followers need to hear and act upon. We all fall short of the glory of God, we sin, in our thoughts, words and actions, and need to turn again to the life that Christ has for us.
As we continue to explore our Strategic Map, we recognise that two parts of the pathway are about our inner journey toward being more like Christ. The first is to grow in our Christ like character, and to humbly learn to submit to the transformative work of the Spirit in us. Our pathway into the future will challenge us to reflect deeper, and more intentionally on our ongoing alignment with Christ's life in us. The map gives us guidance on how we are going to do this.
Our work of transformation is also about learning new and better skills for conducting our ministry. Proverbs 1:5 tells us that the wise will listen and add to their learning. Our journey into the future entails better equipping us for the work of serving that we're called to do.
Take some time, pray, reflect, journal, talk to a trusted friend, in what areas do you need to grow spiritually to more authentically reflect the life of Christ? Also, what are the skills that you need to learn or improve to continue to faithfully serve as God has called and equippped you?
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